It’s Wednesday afternoon and Anthony “Boobie” Dixon just answered a phone call while in the middle of a workout at a Madison gym.

“I am almost done,” Dixon said into the phone. “I just got a couple of sets left so it’ll only be 15 minutes.”

Dixon returned the call 45 minutes later. He politely explained that he tends to lose track of time while in the gym.

“Now, back a couple of months ago, I was doing three hours, four hours … sometimes five,” Dixon said. “They’d be looking at me in there like, ‘Dang, man, you’ve been here a long time.’ Then I would come back at night.”

Dixon, 30, says he is still “grinding for his state,” after making the phrase popular during a postgame on-air interview in 2009 after Mississippi State beat Kentucky. But the grind these days has taken on different forms.

Now that the NFL season is in full-swing, Dixon, who last played in a game in 2015, said he spends “only” two hours in the gym, “max.” He is just looking to maintain right now, he said. Plus, he has chemistry homework due Wednesday night.

That’s right. Dixon wants his degree so he started taking online classes at MSU this semester. He has 20 hours left and he should have already graduated back when he was a star running back at Mississippi State, but “I was a knucklehead and definitely lived life to the fullest,” Dixon said.

Dixon laughed between saying those words. While Dan Mullen recently said he thinks Dixon can still help an NFL team, Dixon assured that he is at peace if he never gets another chance. He wants one, and that’s partially why he participated in the developmental program The Spring League earlier this year. But the days of being “slightly depressed” about likely never playing in an NFL game again have ended.

“I don’t think any player, for a minute, wants to think it’s over in his head,” Dixon said. “But it comes a point where you have to realize maybe I do have to start doing other things. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the $100 million contract. It’s all about switching your mindset and growing, building and grinding.”

“It was one of those things where it wasn’t rehearsed at all,” Dixon said. “The lady was asking me in an interview kind of how we got the job done. And that’s always been a part of me, grind. And that’s all I wake up thinking about it. I go to sleep thinking about it. Grinding.”

The phrase stuck as a slogan for the school. T-shirts were made. Mullen, who was in his first season as head coach at the time, still uses “grind” as a go-to word in interviews.

Dixon’s motto has continued at Mississippi State. And so has his presence.

Dressed in a black top hat — “It’s a classic look and I’m a classy man,” he said — with a maroon Mississippi State t-shirt and maroon shorts over high maroon compression pants, Dixon stood on the sideline before Mississippi State’s game against BYU last week. Dixon is a fixture at football and basketball games in Starkville, and Mullen allows him to talk to the players often and offer guidance.

As he works to obtain his degree, Dixon is often in the Jackson area, giving speeches or training athletes. He will be at Ridgeland High School, for example, in the next couple weeks to speak at the school’s career day.

Fittingly, Dixon is still working toward what he wants to be. Perhaps he’ll be a trainer or a coach or get into business after he graduates.

“I just try to help them develop their mindset,” Dixon said. “You know, how to handle the grind of it all.”

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Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) is stopped by BYU's Chris Wilcox (32) after leaping over BYU's Taggart Krueger (25). Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) releases a pass. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) releases a pass in the first half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Deddrick Thomas (18) runs free after making a catch. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Deddrick Thomas (18) runs free after making a catch. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

MSU defenders attempt to block a field goal in the first half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) prepares to leap over BYU's Taggart Krueger (25) in the first half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) is stopped by BYU's Chris Wilcox (32) after leaping over BYU's Taggart Krueger (25). Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) breaks free on a long run in the first half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) tries to elude BYU's Ula Tolutau (5) during the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

After the bye week Mississippi State came back and took out its frustration on BYU during a 35-10 win. BYU was held to 29 yards rushing, 147 yards passing and eight first downs. Keith Warren, For Clarion Ledger

Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) uses a pump fake to get BYU's Chaz Ah You (19) in the air during the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) gets past a BYU defender on an end-run in the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) tries to fake BYU's Ula Tolutau (5) during a run in the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Montez Sweat (9) hits BYU's Micah Simon (13) in the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's J.T. Gray (12) zeroes in om BYU's Micah Simon (13).Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Dezmond Harris (11) brings down BYU's Ula Tolutau (5) in the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Dezmond Harris (11) and Mississippi State's Brandon Bryant (1) bring down BYU's Ula Tolutau (5) in the second half. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) escapes the grasp of BYU's Troy Warner (1). Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Braxton Hoyett (95) pressures BYU's Tanner Mangum (12) on a fourth-down play that resulted in an interception. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Jamal Couch (17) catches a touchdown pass from Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State's Aeris Williams (22) braces for a hit from BYU's Micah Hannemann (7) on his a way to a fourth-quarter touchdown. Mississippi State and BYU played in a college football game on Saturday, October 14, 2017 in Starkville. Photo by Keith Warren Keith Warren, Keith Warren

Mississippi State wide receiver Donald Gray (6) reacts after for a touchdown catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) receives a block from wide receiver Donald Gray (6) allowing him to score a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum (12) looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

Mississippi State running back Aeris Williams (22) finds running room into the end zone and pat BYU defensive back Chris Wilcox (32) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Mississippi State won 35-10. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

Brigham Young defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku (5) runs back an intercepted pass past Mississippi State offensive lineman Greg Eiland (58) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Mississippi State won 35-10. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

BYU place kicker Andrew Mikkelsen (83) forces Mississippi State wide receiver Keith Mixon (23) to fumble the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Mississippi State won 35-10. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP

Mississippi State wide receiver Keith Mixon (23) knocks the helmut off Brigham Young defensive back Zayne Anderson (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. MSU won 35-10. (AP Photo/Jim Lytle) Jim Lytle, AP